AMES, Ia. — The Timberwolves and Bucks were warming up inside Hilton Coliseum Sunday night when someone asked about something way beyond the first NBA exhibition in Ames since 1999, when the Bulls played Atlanta. Tim Floyd was the Bulls' coach and Fred Hoiberg was one of his players back then, mind you.

“How about Brock Purdy?” the Cyclones fan inquired, the tone in her voice showing more glee at what happened at Oklahoma State on Saturday than inquisition.

Fans were still aflutter that a true freshman quarterback could play so well in what’s often the hostile environment of T. Boone Pickens Stadium.

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Milwaukee's Christian Wood dunks the ball during the preseason match-up between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018, in Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa. The Bucks won the game 125-107. Kelsey Kremer/The Register

Milwaukee's Khris Middleton goes up for a shot as Minnesota's Luol Deng defends during the preseason match-up between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018, in Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa. The Bucks won the game 125-107. Kelsey Kremer/The Register

Milwaukee's Christian Wood celebrates after scoring during the preseason match-up between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018, in Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa. The Bucks won the game 125-107. Kelsey Kremer/The Register

Milwaukee's Tony Snell celebrates after scoring during the preseason match-up between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018, in Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa. The Bucks won the game 125-107. Kelsey Kremer/The Register

Minnesota's Karl-Anthony Towns drives to the hoop during the preseason match-up between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018, in Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa. Kelsey Kremer/The Register

Minnesota's Karl-Anthony Towns shoots a lay-up while Milwaukee's John Henson defends during the preseason match-up between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018, in Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa. Kelsey Kremer/The Register

Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo fives his teammates as he heads toward the bench during the preseason match-up between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018, in Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa. Kelsey Kremer/The Register

Minnesota coach Tom Thibodeau talks to a referee during the preseason match-up between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018, in Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa. Kelsey Kremer/The Register

Fans at Sunday’s exhibition cheered for the Timberwolves — their G-League affiliate is right down the road, in Des Moines, but the crowd was also a Mayor’s Bulls crowd. It was Ames. It was Hilton Coliseum, where he played and coached.

“I’ve never been on this campus; it’s beautiful,” Timberwolves coach Tom Thibodeau said before the game. “I’m excited to be here.

“With the proximity to Des Moines from Minneapolis — we have a lot of fans here. We’re excited to be here.”

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Most of the 11,000 or so fans Sunday night didn’t care much about the Jimmy Butler drama because they’ve already seen that when he was a Hoiberg Bull.

But up North and among Timberwolves fans, he’s big news.

Butler wants to be traded, and there was word that a weekend blockbuster trade was possible with the Miami Heat.

It didn’t happen (yet) — and he didn’t play Sunday, because he’s recovering “from an off-season procedure” on his right hand.

“In the NBA, you can’t get distracted,” Thibodeau said. “You focus on the people that are here, and you get ready to play with them.

“This team’s been through a lot. It’s ready to handle whatever is thrown in its way.”

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Minnesota's Karl-Anthony Towns shoots a lay-up while Milwaukee's John Henson defends during the preseason match-up between the Minnesota Timberwolves and the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018, in Hilton Coliseum in Ames, Iowa. (Photo11: Kelsey Kremer/The Register)

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And finally...

Maybe someday Fred can bring his Bulls to Hilton to play an exhibition...

Against Nick Nurse’s Toronto Raptors.

That’d be cool...

A former Ames High School star facing a former Carroll Kuemper star?

Someone get to work on that.

Iowa State columnist Randy Peterson has been with the Register for parts of five decades. Randy writes opinion and analysis of Iowa State football and basketball. You can reach Randy at rpeterson@dmreg.com or on Twitter at @RandyPete.